For years, Central Regional Referral Hospital in Gelephu has struggled with water leaks, damaged ceilings, ageing building systems and limited space for some services. Now, as Gelephu Mindfulness City takes shape, the hospital is being lined up for a major upgrade. GMC has invited firms to assess the hospital and prepare detailed designs for its renovation.
This hospital was inaugurated in 2018 as a 150-bed facility, meant to serve patients from six districts in southern Bhutan. But assessments have found significant problems with the building and its systems.
Cracked walls, water leakage, damaged ceilings, blocked drainage and ageing plumbing and electrical systems. These are among the problems identified in the hospital’s latest assessment.
The hospital also faces constraints in areas such as its medical store and traditional medicine unit.
For people who regularly depend on the hospital, better facilities are not simply about appearance. They are about getting care in a safer and more functional environment.
“The hospital already looks quite old to people who visit. There are leaks on the walls and ceilings, and the overall condition does not look very good. I feel it is time for the hospital to be renovated,” said Sangay Choden, a resident of Gelephu.
“The hospital does not look very good, and there are also safety concerns, especially with the condition of the ceilings. With more important people and visitors coming to GMC, I feel the hospital should also be upgraded. It would be better if the renovation work could begin soon,” said Amrita Rai, another resident.
Under the proposed upgrade, the first step is to find out exactly what needs to be fixed.
The consultant will assess the hospital’s building, plumbing, electrical systems and ventilation. It will also look at emergency power, water and sewerage systems, medical gases and fire safety.
The assessment will also examine the layout of clinical areas, accessibility and infection control. The aim is to make the hospital safer, more functional and easier to maintain. And importantly, the renovation will have to be planned around a hospital that remains operational. The consultant will therefore have to develop a construction plan that keeps essential services running while the work is carried out.
For now, construction has not yet started. GMC is at the consultant selection stage. Firms were invited to submit their expressions of interest, with the deadline falling last week. Once a consultant is appointed, the design and tender documentation is expected to take six months.
For a hospital built to serve the southern region, the proposed upgrade could be an important step towards meeting the changing needs of Gelephu. And as the Mindfulness City grows, residents hope the hospital will grow with it, not only in appearance, but in its ability to provide safe and reliable healthcare.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
